175: The Demon Wood Envoy and the True Demon Art of Withering and Flourishing

Qingmu Fort, Phoenix Fall Slope Immortal Cave.

"Zizi zizi—"

Inside the Earth Fire Chamber, that originally incredibly violent, green-and-red mixed "Qingmu Demonic Fire" was now like a dead snake held by its seven-inch mark, obediently coiling beneath the void heaven cauldron.

Zhou Wannian (Han Li) sat cross-legged, the gray Yuan Ci Divine Light on his body intertwining with the blue Azure Blue Ice Flame.

"This mutated earth fire is indeed somewhat interesting."

Zhou Wannian opened his eyes, the depths of his pupils reflecting the green-red firelight.

"Wood generates fire, yet it carries the endless vitality of the wood attribute. Using it to nourish this void heaven cauldron, which has just devoured the Magnetic Force Origin, is perfect for neutralizing that overly heavy aura of deathly silence."

After several days of seclusion, he had not only initially stabilized the Magnetic Force within his body but had also conveniently tamed the "demonic fire" that had been a plague to Qingmu Fort.

For him, who possessed the Azure Blue Ice Flame (extreme cold) and the Evil-Warding Divine Thunder (extreme yang), a mutated flame of this level was merely a slightly hot toy.

"Sir."

The Immortal Cave's Restriction was touched, and Purple Spirit's slightly anxious voice came through.

"What's wrong?" Zhou Wannian retracted his Cultivation Technique, and the flames instantly receded back underground.

"People from the Five Poisons Cult have arrived."

Purple Spirit walked into the secret chamber, her expression somewhat grim. "And it's not just the Five Poisons Cult; that Old Monster Wan Du also brought a strange man wearing green robes. That person's cultivation... is very high, at least the peak of the Late Core Formation Stage, and his aura is eerie. Even the mountain-protecting Formation of Qingmu Fort is about to give way."

"Fort Master Qin sent a Sound Transmission Talisman for help, saying the other party named us specifically to come out, or else they would wash Qingmu Fort in blood."

"Named me specifically?"

Zhou Wannian frowned, a flash of impatience in his eyes.

"I just want to cultivate in peace. Why are there flies everywhere I go?"

He stood up and patted his robes.

"Very well."

"It just so happens that I've gained some insights from comprehending the 'Yuan Ci Divine Light' these past few days, and my hands are a bit itchy."

"I'll go out for some fresh air."

...Qingmu Fort, Mountain Gate Square.

The situation at this moment was already precarious.

The light-green light screen, the Yi Wood Azure Spirit Formation, which originally enveloped the entire hilltop, was now being tightly entwined by countless thick black vines. These vines were covered in barbs and constantly secreted black venom, corroding the Formation's spiritual light.

"Crack... crack..."

The Formation's light screen emitted a tooth-aching sound of cracking.

"Pfft!"

Qin Tianxiong (the Fort Master), who was presiding over the Formation, spat out a mouthful of blood, his face deathly pale.

Outside the great Formation.

Old Monster Wan Du stood with a fawning expression behind a green-robed youth.

That youth had an eerie appearance, his skin showing a strange withered yellow, and his fingernails were three inches long and as black as ink. Just by standing there, the surrounding vegetation withered at a visible speed.

Demonic Wood Sect Special Envoy—Li Mu.

"Fort Master Qin, this envoy's patience is limited."

Li Mu toyed with a withered head in his hand (it was a Qingmu Fort deacon who had just tried to break through), his voice raspy and piercing.

"Hand over the two murderers who killed my Demonic Wood Sect's subordinates, and offer up all the female Cultivators and Spirit Stones in the fort."

"This envoy might consider giving you a quick death."

"In your dreams!"

Qin Tianxiong gritted his teeth. "Although my Qingmu Fort is a small establishment, we will never bow to the Demonic Path! If you have the ability, then attack your way in!"

"Courting death."

Li Mu sneered, the green light in his eyes surging.

"Since you are in such a hurry to be reincarnated, then this envoy will let you see the methods of the Ten Great Demonic Sects!"

"True Demon Art of Wither and Flourish: Ten Thousand Woods Descent!"

Boom!

He slammed his hands into the ground.

The trees within a ten-mile radius instantly withered and died, all their vitality forcibly extracted and gathered at his feet.

Immediately after, the black vines entwined around the Formation surged tenfold in size, transforming into ferocious wood dragons that violently strangled the light screen!

"Bang!!!"

A loud explosion.

The Yi Wood Azure Spirit Formation, which had held out for half an hour, finally shattered completely.

"It's over..."

Qin Tianxiong, Qin Lan, and the others behind them looked ashen-faced.

"Kill! Leave no one alive!" Old Monster Wan Du shrieked excitedly.

Just as the Demonic Path crowd was preparing to rush into the fort and begin a massacre.

"Um... could you be a bit quieter?"

A calm voice abruptly rang out across the chaotic battlefield.

The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

Everyone was stunned and looked toward the source.

From the direction of Phoenix Fall Slope on the back mountain of Qingmu Fort, a youth wearing a green scholar's robe walked slowly. He walked very slowly, as if taking a stroll in his own backyard, but with every step he took, the violent Devilish Qi vines would inexplicably Move aside on their own.

Zhou Wannian (Han Li).

"It's you?!"

Old Monster Wan Du recognized the person from the portrait at a glance and pointed at Zhou Wannian, shouting: "Lord Envoy! It's him! It's this kid named Han who killed Old Seven!"

"Oh?"

Li Mu narrowed his eerie eyes, sizing up Zhou Wannian from top to bottom.

"Late Foundation Establishment Stage?"

"No... you have a Magic Treasure on you that masks your aura."

Li Mu licked his lips, a hint of greed appearing in his eyes.

"With such vigorous physical Qi and blood, it seems you are a Body Cultivator."

"Perfect, this envoy's 'Demonic Wood' is just lacking a good piece of flower fertilizer."

"Flower fertilizer?"

Zhou Wannian stopped walking, looked at this overbearing Demonic Wood Sect Special Envoy, and a playful arc curled at the corner of his mouth.

"What a coincidence."

"My home just happens to be short of someone to chop wood."

"I see you've practiced this wood-attribute Cultivation Technique quite well; it should be quite resistant to burning."

"Seeking death!"

Li Mu was furious. In this small corner of Liaozhou in the Great Jin, no one had ever dared to speak to him like this!

"Withered Wood Demonic Claw!"

Whoosh—

He thrust out his right hand, which instantly transformed into a giant ghostly claw about an acre in size, composed of countless withered vines, carrying an aura of decay as it lunged fiercely at Zhou Wannian.

This strike was enough to crush an ordinary Middle Core Formation Stage Cultivator.

Facing this terrifying strike.

Zhou Wannian did not Move.

He only sighed softly.

"Tie Zhu."

"Present."

Boom!

A dark shadow leaped out from the void in front of Zhou Wannian..

It was a humanoid Puppet only the size of a normal person, but its entire body was covered in deep blue ice crystal armor.

Tie Zhu 4.0 (an upgraded version incorporating Tiandu Corpse Refinement Materials and part of the Azure Blue Ice Flame's aura).

Tie Zhu didn't use any sophisticated Moves.

It simply raised its right arm, and the arm that had been modified into a giant drill rotated frantically, its surface igniting with a layer of ghostly blue flames.

[Ice Flame: Spiral Impact].

Pshhh!

That formidable-looking Withered Wood Demonic Claw, the moment it touched Tie Zhu's drill, was like rotten wood meeting a chainsaw.

It shattered instantly.

Wood chips flew everywhere.

"What?!"

Li Mu was shocked. This Puppet could actually break his Art of Wither and Flourish?!

"It's not over yet."

Zhou Wannian said indifferently.

"Go."

The thrusters behind Tie Zhu's back emitted two beams of blue light, and it instantly charged in front of Li Mu.

"Damn it! Demonic Wood Protection!"

Li Mu's body erupted with green light, and countless layers of hard wood armor covered his entire body.

However.

Zhou Wannian extended a finger, and a flicker of green-and-red mixed flame lit up at the tip.

It was the one he had just tamed—the Qingmu Demonic Fire.

"Wood-attribute technique, is it?"

"This fire of mine is specifically for burning wood."

He flicked his finger.

That small flame drifted lightly onto Li Mu's protective wood armor.

Boom!!!

It was like dropping a spark into a barrel of oil.

Li Mu's proud "True Demonic Qi of Wither and Flourish" actually became the best fuel for this demonic fire.

"Aaaaaah—!!!"

A shrill scream echoed through the clouds.

Li Mu instantly turned into a giant green-red fireball. The flames not only destroyed his Physical Body but also followed his Meridians to burn straight into his Dantian!

"What... what kind of fire is this?! Why can't it be extinguished?!"

Li Mu discovered in horror that no matter how he mobilized his Devilish Qi to suppress it, the fire burned even more fiercely!

"Qingmu Demonic Fire, wood and fire sharing the same source."

Zhou Wannian explained unhurriedly, like a schoolteacher.

"The stronger the wood attribute of your Wither and Flourish technique, the more joyfully this fire burns."

"Remember this for your next life."

"Those who play with wood shouldn't provoke those who play with fire."

"Bang!"

A muffled sound.

That overbearing Demonic Wood Sect Special Envoy didn't even have time for his Primordial Spirit to escape before he was completely burned into a pile of ash.

Only a Storage Pouch and a black wooden token remained, falling to the ground.

The entire scene... was dead silent.

Old Monster Wan Du was so scared he slumped to the ground, his whole body shaking like a sieve.

Insta-killed?!

A peak Late Core Formation Stage Special Envoy was insta-killed by a single flame?!

"Run!!!"

Old Monster Wan Du let out a shriek, turned around, and tried to flee by riding his escape light.

"Did I say you could leave?"

Zhou Wannian didn't even look at him.

"Tie Zhu."

"Crack."

A hundred yards away.

The fleeing Old Monster Wan Du suddenly discovered a cold arm through his chest.

Tie Zhu had somehow teleported onto his path and punched through his chest.

"Waste sorting, cleanup complete."

Tie Zhu shook the blood off its hand, picked up Old Monster Wan Du's corpse, and flew back to Zhou Wannian's side... Zhou Wannian picked up the black token Li Mu had dropped.

A hideous ghost face was carved on it, and two ancient seal script characters were written on the back—[Heavenly Demon].

"An inner disciple token of the Heavenly Demon Sect?"

Zhou Wannian was thoughtful.

"It seems the relationship between this Demonic Wood Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect is deeper than I imagined."

He put away the token and the Storage Pouch, then turned to look at Qin Tianxiong and the others, who were already dumbstruck.

"Fort Master Qin."

"Ah? Yes! Yes!" Qin Tianxiong jolted and hurriedly bowed, his attitude more respectful than if he were seeing his own father, "Senior's Divine Might! Thank you, Senior, for saving my entire Qingmu Fort!"

"It was just convenient."

Zhou Wannian waved his hand.

"However, I can no longer stay in this place."

"Having killed the Demonic Wood Sect's Special Envoy, if the small ones die, the old ones will come. It's too noisy."

Zhou Wannian sighed.

"I am a person who likes peace."

"Fort Master Qin, I won't ask for a refund on the cave's rent; consider it a fee for you to repair the Formation."

"Farewell."

Having said that.

Zhou Wannian beckoned, taking Purple Spirit and Tie Zhu with him, as they transformed into a streak of green light and instantly disappeared into the horizon.

Leaving behind the group of Cultivators from Qingmu Fort, who gazed in the direction he had left, not daring to stand up for a long time... In mid-air.

"Husband, where are we going?" Purple Spirit asked.

"We can't stay in Liaozhou anymore."

Zhou Wannian looked at the map in his hand.

"That old man Xiang Zhili said that the truly prosperous places in the Great Jin are the 'Central State' and the 'Five Dragon Sea'."

"However, I just found something interesting in that envoy's Storage Pouch."

Zhou Wannian took out an invitation.

"[Jin Capital · Imperial City Auction]."

"A grand event hosted by the Great Jin imperial family. It's said there will be many rare Materials that are hard to find elsewhere."

"To repair the void heaven cauldron, I still need a material called 'geng essence'."

"Let's go."

"To the capital of the Great Jin—the Jin Capital."

"The fish and dragons are mixed there, making it more suitable for us to fish in troubled waters."